Richard Henry Lee to Patrick Henry

I am just favored with yours of the 14th and thank you for it.¹ Every attempt to clothe the army is commendable, upon principles both of humanity and policy. As there is great Trade at Charles Town you have some chance for the woolens you want, altho this is the worst season for application on account of the many negroes they have to clothe in that Country. Either the Havannah or New Orleans are places where you may surely get Woolens and military Stores. Doctor Lee’s letters have repeatedly assured us that at these places would be lodged the above articles for N America in general, and Virginia in particular. Small swift sailing Vessels sent to the former of these places from Virginia or North Carolina freighted with fine flour or Tobacco would not fail to return loaded with necessaries, and by pushing into some of the inlets on the Sea Cost of North Carolina might avoid the British Cruisers that infest our Bay and the goods be safely brot overland. This appears to me the most expeditious and the most certain way. By this method, the blankets & cloaths might yet be in Season to help the Soldiers before the winter is over. With respect to the loan of money at the Havannah or N. Orleans, I am not able to form a judgement whether it can be effected or not, the latter most probably, because Dr. Lee was able to get but a small sum immediately from Spain for Congress, altho he expected a larger credit from Holland thro the mediation and security of Spain. Add to this the great probability of immediate war in Europe, from which Spain will not be detached. I remember Dr. Lee in many of his letters to me previaus to his visit to Spain said he should endeavor to negotiate a loan from that Court for Virginia & (Maryland) South Carolina to support (as he said) the credit of our paper money. Since his return from Spain he only mentions Cloaths & military Stores that wd. be lodged at Havannah & Orleans for our use. For the purpose of securing the credit of our money on a great emergence it were to be wished a credit could be obtained as you propose, and therefore I think it will not be amiss to make the experiment. As for goods they may be had in the way of Barter. Indeed, I understood Dr. Lee, that the military Stores and Cloathing would be delivered without immediate pay of any kind. We formerly sent you the <extract> of a letter on this subject to Congress, which is all that <has> been received, unless it be a Spanish letter from the Governor of N. Orleans which Mr. Morris took away to get translated, and it has not yet been returned.² You shall have it when we get it. Monsr. Loyeaute declines the Directorship of the Academy. He is a young Gentleman of high family, of fortune, and ardent in pursuit of military glory. His father, who is a general in the Artillery of France has taken pains to instruct this his Son from his earliest youth, and he is, you may be assured, a Proficient. He is sober, temperate as a Soldier should be, and seems to have none of the fashionable vices. He says he came not here for Money, but to search for military honor, to assist America in establishing her freedom, but since he cannot be employed on that way, he shall return to his own Country, the business of an Acadenuecian better suiting Age & infirmity with views of distant good, than youth, strength, and prospect of present action and immediate benefit to the public. I am concerned we <have> lost this Gentleman in many accounts. I am sure my Country will suffer for want of the knowledge he possesses and the rejection of him happened at an unlucky Crisis. All the rest of his Corps had just set out on their return to France because Congress would not comply with the Contact Mr Deane had firmly made with them in France and which had disgusted them greatly. This Gentleman remained at our request, and altho our engagement was not absolute, it was very strong, kept him from returning with his companions, and will I fear impress on all their minds bad ideas of the Americans and do us no service in France. This is well known here & the Delegates look rather small in the eyes of their brethren. I am sure we acted for the best, well knowing the utter deficiency of knowledge in this branch with us, its necessity, and having the best grounds for believing this Gentleman an Adept. It is certain we went rather too far, I am sorry for it, but we shall be less forward in future. Since I last wrote, the enemy have taken Fort Island, after a most gallant defence on the part of the Garrison, which retreated from the Island in the Night after all but two of their Guns were dismounted, and not <more than> a rod & an half of the works left. The enemy brought <up> their Cutdown Indiaman between Province Island & the <fort> from which they poured a most dreadful Cannonade from 24 & 32 pounders, and from their Tops the fire of Cohorns & Musketry drove the Men from their guns in the Fort. The better opinion yet is, that the Enemy cannot get ther Fleet up to the City until they first remove the Gallies, the Chevaux de Frize, and reduce Red Bank. To effect this latter purpose, we hear that Cornwallis with <3000> Men has crossed into the Jersies, and that our Army is gone down to attack their lines now weakened by such a powerful reenforcement sent away. If so, we may expect important news in a day or two. One Brigade from the Eastern Army, with Morgans Corps have lately joined Gen. Washington. 20 Regiments are ordered from Gate’s Army. The Rhode Island Expedition went no further than Providence by the Misconduct, ’tis said, of old Spencer. There will be an enquiry. Our last intelligence from the West Indies which covers news from France the 4th of Septr. gives us abundant reason to think that a War between France and G. Britain is on the verge of taking place if it has not already done so. The Fr. Amb<assado>r is ordered to demand all F. Vessels taken by England without the limits prescribed by Treaty, and to retire from the Court if the demand was not complied with. The Governors in the F. Islands are ordered to be in readiness for war and to lay an Embargo on all Vessels bound to Europe to prevent their falling into the enemies hands. 5000 additional Troops are to be immediately sent to Martinique & Guadaloupe. Portugal has acceeded to the Family Compact. Dr. Lee is returning from Prussia havg. finished his business successfully at that Court. The King of Prussia has opened his Ports to the Vessels of the United States, and Mr. Carmichael writes that a ship loaded with Tobacco to Embden would be attended with <salutary> consequences. The Cargo would be returned in <manu>factures very usefull to us, and 15 or 20 per cent cheaper than from France. Cant we try this experiment at the proper Season which may be known by the Commercial Dictionaries. We expect daily to receive important news from Europe. My ill state of health, produced by bad water, bad air and excessive business will compel me to return home in a few days for the severity of the winter Season.

I am, with sentiments of affectionate <esteem and> regard, dear Sir yours,

Richard Henry Lee